Manuel da Costa (footballer)

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Manuel da Costa
Personal information
Full name	Manuel da Costa
Date of birth	6 May 1986
Place of birth	Saint-Mex, France
Height	187 cm
Position	Defender
Club information
Current club	PSV Eindhoven
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2004-2006 2006-Present	Nancy-Lorraine PSV Eindhoven	10 (1) 7 (0)
National team**
2006- 2006-	Portugal U-21 Portugal	22 (0) 0 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 June 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 21 June 2006.

Manuel da Costa born in Saint-Max, France on 6 May 1986 is a Portuguese player for PSV Eindhoven. Manuel da Costa is from France but his parents were both from Portugal allowing him to play for the Portugal national football team. He has never played for Portugal but he was called up for Euro 2008 qualifying matches on October and November 2006. He could have played for France but he refused with him joining the Portugal U-21.

[edit] Club Stats

Manuel da Costa began his carreer at Ligue 1 club Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine where he was one of their most used player after having offers from clubs like Paris SG who he was recommened by Pedro Pauleta. He also had offers from Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux, and Newcastle United, but opted to play in Holland with PSV Eindhoven where the glamour of UEFA Champion's League football caught his eye at the Philips Stadion.

PSV Eindhoven added to their defensive options with the capture of Portuguese prodigy Manuel da Costa in summer 2006.

The 20-year-old centre-back agreed a five-year contract with the Dutch champions to become new coach Ronald Koeman's second summer signing. Da Costa was given the No14 shirt and a trip to the club's training base whetted his appetite for future challenges, saying: "It will be a beautiful base to grow and develop with PSV Eindhoven." As well as his ten appearances in Ligue 1 in 2005/06 - with his debut coming in January - Da Costa scored a memorable individual goal to help Nancy defeat Le Mans in the French League Cup semi-finals. Nancy went on to lift the trophy and qualify for the UEFA Cup, although their former charge would be in the UEFA Champions League.

He caught the eye representing Portugal at the Toulon Under-20 tournament in May 2006, having resisted calls to play for France where he was born.

[edit] PSV Eindhoven

da Costa is one of PSV Eindhoven's most versatile defenders, and he and Carlos Salcido formed an unbreakable defense with his first UEFA game against five time champion Liverpool FC where he got his first taste of the UEFA Champions League.

PSV Eindhoven - Current Squad
1 Gomes | 2 Kromkamp | 3 Reiziger | 4 Alex | 5 Ball | 6 Simons | 7 Väyrynen | 8 Cocu | 9 Kluivert | 10 Koné | 11 Méndez | 14 da Costa | 15 Čulina | 16 Aissati | 17 Farfán | 18 Addo | 19 Lamey | 20 Afellay | 21 Moens | 22 Fehér | 23 Salcido | 24 Nguyen | 25 de Jong | 26 Tardelli | 30 Plá | 31 Coe | 33 Beerens | Coach: Koeman